Worksheet 2 - Empirical and Molecular Formulas

 
Empirical formula determination
The empirical formula is the simplest ratio of the numbers of atoms of each element that make a compound. To find
the empirical formula of a compound:
 Divide the amount of each element (either in mass or percentage) by its atomic mass. This calculation gives
you moles of atoms for each element that appears in the formula
 Convert the results to small whole number ratios. Often the ratios are obvious. If they are not divide all of
the other quotients by the smallest quotient
 
Example: Analysis of a certain compound showed that 39.348 grams of it contained 0.883 grams of hydrogen,
10.497 grams of Carbon, and 27.968 grams of Oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula of the
compound.

             First divide the amount by the atomic mass to get the number of moles of each kind of atom in
the formula
 
0.883 g
Hydrogen H = 1.01 g mol-1 = 0.874 mol
 
 
10.497 g
Carbon C = 12.01 g mol-1 = 0.874 mol
 
 
27.968 g
Oxygen O = 16.00 g mol-1 = 1.748 mol
 
           Analysis of the ratios shows that the first two are identical and that the third is twice the other two.
Therefore the ratio of H to C to O is 1 to 1 to 2. The empirical formula is HCO2
 
Molecular formula Determination
To calculate the molecular formula from the empirical formula it is necessary to know the molecular (molar) mass.
 Add up the atomic masses in the empirical formula to get the factor. Divide this number into the molecular
formula mass. If the number does not divide evenly you probably have a mistake in the empirical formula
or its formula mass
 Multiply each subscript in the empirical formula by the factor to get the molecular formula
 
Example: Suppose the molecular mass of the above compound HCO2 is 90.0. Calculate the molecular formula.

 The empirical formula mass of is

1H @ 1.0 = 1.0
1C @ 12.0 = 12.0
2O @ 16.0 = 32.0
      45.0

 Note that 45 is exactly half of the molecular mass of 90. So, the formula mass of HCO2 is exactly half of
the molecular mass. Hence the molecular formula is double that of the empirical formula or H2C2O4.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Worksheet 2- Empirical and Molecular Formula Calculations
1.    A certain compound contains 4.0 g of calcium and 7.1 g of chlorine. Is relative molecular mass is 111.
Find its empirical and molecular formulas.

2.    A certain compound has 25.9% nitrogen and 74.1% oxygen. Its relative molecular mass is 108. Find its
empirical and molecular formula

3.    A certain compound was found to contain 54.0 g of carbon and 10.5 grams of hydrogen Its relative
molecular mass is 86.0. Find the empirical and the molecular formulas.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
4.    A certain compound was found to contain 26.4 g of carbon, 4.4 grams of hydrogen and 35.2 grams of
oxygen. Its relative molecular mass is 60.0. Find the empirical and the molecular formula.
 
 
 
 

 
 
5.    A certain compound was found to contain 78.2 % Boron and 21.8 % hydrogen. Its relative molecular
mass is 27.7. Find the empirical and the molecular formula.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.      A certain compound contains 27.3%Carbon, 4.5 % hydrogen, 36.4% oxygen, and 31.8% nitrogen. Its
relative molecular mass is 176.0. Find its empirical and molecular formulas.